The Florida Senate

465.0235  Automated pharmacy systems used by long-term care facilities, hospices, or state correctional institutions.--

(1)  A pharmacy may provide pharmacy services to a long-term care facility or hospice licensed under chapter 400 or a state correctional institution operated under chapter 944 through the use of an automated pharmacy system that need not be located at the same location as the pharmacy.

(2)  Medicinal drugs stored in bulk or unit of use in an automated pharmacy system servicing a long-term care facility, hospice, or correctional institution are part of the inventory of the pharmacy providing pharmacy services to that facility, hospice, or institution, and drugs delivered by the automated pharmacy system are considered to have been dispensed by that pharmacy.

(3)  The operation of an automated pharmacy system must be under the supervision of a Florida-licensed pharmacist. To qualify as a supervisor for an automated pharmacy system, the pharmacist need not be physically present at the site of the automated pharmacy system and may supervise the system electronically. The Florida-licensed pharmacist shall be required to develop and implement policies and procedures designed to verify that the medicinal drugs delivered by the automated dispensing system are accurate and valid and that the machine is properly restocked.

(4)  The Legislature does not intend this section to limit the current practice of pharmacy in this state. This section is intended to allow automated pharmacy systems to enhance the ability of a pharmacist to provide pharmacy services in locations that do not employ a full-time pharmacist. This section does not limit or replace the use of a consultant pharmacist.

(5)  The board shall adopt rules governing the use of an automated pharmacy system by January 1, 2005, which must specify:

(a)  Recordkeeping requirements;

(b)  Security requirements; and

(c)  Labeling requirements that permit the use of unit-dose medications if the facility, hospice, or institution maintains medication-administration records that include directions for use of the medication and the automated pharmacy system identifies:

1.  The dispensing pharmacy;

2.  The prescription number;

3.  The name of the patient; and

4.  The name of the prescribing practitioner.

History.--s. 3, ch. 2004-25.